Southeastern prosecution letter

[astraproject48]

Hello,

I was interviewed and issued a Mg11 statement on 25th February for short faring. I had paid for a ticket from Lewisham to London Bridge but actually got on the train at West Wickham. I have just received the normal letter that is issued to explain yourself (having looked on this forum)

I would like to settle this out of court so any advice would be appreciated.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Mar 2025 ==

To provide a bit more detail, I purchased the ticket via uber (as you get credits back). I have done this sporadically over the last year but not many times at all. When I was interviewed I originally lied but confessed a minute later. But I did not say it was my intention to avoid the fare

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Could you show us redacted versions of the MG11 and the letter please? That will help the pros here to give you advice.

 

[astraproject48]

This is it

 

[30907]

The basic approach you need to take is frequently posted by Hadders, a longstanding forum member, so search (top right corner!) for his recent posts.

You should be able to get an out of court settlement from SE, but you must be prepared for them to have done their research and price in any previous short-faring they have uncovered. There is no need to admit to tue previous occasions, but be careful not to deny them either in the way you word your reply

 

[JordR]

Also expect to pay the £8.50 anytime day single (possibly several of those if other trips are identified, but as stated above no need to admit to those unless asked) and an administration fee of around £150 to 175.

 

[astraproject48]

Thank you for the guidance above - much appreciated. I have had a go at drafting a response to send by email/post. For context, I had forgotten to purchase the ticket before I boarded the train and only bought the short fare once I realised this.



Dear Mr Wills

I am writing in response to your letter that I received regarding the incident on 25th February 2025.

On the date of the incident, I travelled from West Wickham to London Bridge with a ticket that did not cover my full journey. Foolishly, I had forgotten to purchase a ticket in advance of my journey and only realised this once the train was at Lewisham. Following this, I purchased a ticket that was only valid for the part of the journey from Lewisham to London Bridge.
Firstly, I would like to apologise for my careless actions on that morning and express that I am deeply regretful of it. I acknowledge that this was a grave error of judgement and take full responsibility for this. I completely understand the severity of my actions and the wider impact it can have on the railways. It is not a course of action that I will ever be foolish enough to repeat again.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without the need for court proceedings. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any reasonable administrative costs incurred by Southeastern in dealing with this incident/case.

Once again, I apologise profusely for my actions and I hope that this matter can be resolved as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

 

[Pushpit]

That's a good letter and hopefully will work, just ensure their reference number is included in your reply, and consider a tracking service from the Royal Mail so you have peace of mind that the letter was delivered on time.

You don't need to reply to this, perhaps best that you don't, but Lewisham - London Bridge is a very, very obvious route for short fares, so you can expect that you will get a digital strip-search of your train accounts to see if any other trips like this appear. This so, it may take longer to resolve. But if the letter you received only related to one journey then that's all you need to mention at this point.

 

[astraproject48]

Thank you, I will remember to include the ref number. Will send by email and tracked post.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Mar 2025 ==

Is it necessary to fill in the details requested on the back page of their letter? Do you have to send these details with the email/letter or can you just send the response over without.

 

[Pushpit]

Thank you, I will remember to include the ref number. Will send by email and tracked post.

Is it necessary to fill in the details requested on the back page of their letter? Do you have to send these details with the email/letter or can you just send the response over without.

Just say "See attached letter" and include it in the posted version. I don't think it matters too much so long as they hear from you and that you are cooperative.

 

[astraproject48]

Just say "See attached letter" and include it in the posted version. I don't think it matters too much so long as they hear from you and that you are cooperative.

Thank you for all your help. I have sent the email off and will post the letter off soon.

Is there a rough time frame on when I should expect to hear back? I assume the answer differs on a case by case basis but any indication would be great!

 

[Pushpit]

Southeastern aren't one of the faster companies, unfortunately, and also has a habit of losing letters. It's therefore important to retain proof of delivery, which you can get online. I would expect to wait a few weeks at least.

 

[astraproject48]

Southeastern aren't one of the faster companies, unfortunately, and also has a habit of losing letters. It's therefore important to retain proof of delivery, which you can get online. I would expect to wait a few weeks at least.

Hello. I have not heard back from Southeastern (I sent the response on 7 March). Is it worth following this up by email to confirm receipt? I note that delays seem normal with SE

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hello. I have not heard back from Southeastern (I sent the response on 7 March). Is it worth following this up by email to confirm receipt? I note that delays seem normal with SE

If I have read post #10 correctly, you sent your response by both email and letter. If I am right on that, then you should be concerned if you have not had an auto-response to your email as I think Southeastern do send those. And if you sent the paper copy by tracked post, then check on the Royal Mail website as to whether it has been received. If you were expecting confirmation of receipt by those routes and you haven't had it, then I think it would be worth sending the letter and email again, to make sure that it has been received.

But if you have had an acknowledgement of receipt then there's no reason to be worried yet: prosecution offices are busy places (and I suspect also underfunded so understaffed) so waiting for some weeks isn't unusual. As long as you are sure that your response has got to Southeastern then all you can do is wait.

 

[astraproject48]

If I have read post #10 correctly, you sent your response by both email and letter. If I am right on that, then you should be concerned if you have not had an auto-response to your email as I think Southeastern do send those. And if you sent the paper copy by tracked post, then check on the Royal Mail website as to whether it has been received. If you were expecting confirmation of receipt by those routes and you haven't had it, then I think it would be worth sending the letter and email again, to make sure that it has been received.

But if you have had an acknowledgement of receipt then there's no reason to be worried yet: prosecution offices are busy places (and I suspect also underfunded so understaffed) so waiting for some weeks isn't unusual. As long as you are sure that your response has got to Southeastern then all you can do is wait.

The letter I posted was tracked and arrived (going by the photo evidence) so I am not too worried. It was more in the interest of getting the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

Thanks for the extra info. I will send a follow up email to ask for acknowledgment of receipt. Do automatic replies usually arrive quickly after?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

The letter I posted was tracked and arrived (going by the photo evidence) so I am not too worried. It was more in the interest of getting the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

Thanks for the extra info. I will send a follow up email to ask for acknowledgment of receipt. Do automatic replies usually arrive quickly after?

As your paper letter has got to the railway all you can do now is wait.

 

[astraproject48]

As your paper letter has got to the railway all you can do now is wait.

Hello. They emailed back on March 28 to confirm receipt of my letter and email, and that I will be contacted by post once they have concluded their investigation.

I guess all I can do is wait but should I be concerned if I haven’t heard back by the end of April? I would obviously like to bring this matter to a close asap.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hello. They emailed back on March 28 to confirm receipt of my letter and email, and that I will be contacted by post once they have concluded their investigation.

I guess all I can do is wait but should I be concerned if I haven’t heard back by the end of April? I would obviously like to bring this matter to a close asap.

It’s not in your interests to remind a party who is both the victim and the prosecutor of the offences you committed against them. Just wait to be contacted. Sometimes companies lose evidence or fail to conclude matters within the statutory 6 month timescale, and the case will be closed as a result.

 

[astraproject48]

Hi all,

Just to update, Southeastern have agreed to settle out of court and I have paid the penalty.

Thank you very much for all the help and advice. It was much appreciated.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hi all,

Just to update, Southeastern have agreed to settle out of court and I have paid the penalty.

Thank you very much for all the help and advice. It was much appreciated.

That's good news - thanks for letting us know. If you would be prepared to share how much you have had to pay, that would help us give good advice to other people who run into trouble with Southeastern.

 

[astraproject48]

That's good news - thanks for letting us know. If you would be prepared to share how much you have had to pay, that would help us give good advice to other people who run into trouble with Southeastern.

Of course. They found one other occasion on my historic record so the total was £160 (including 150 admin fee).

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Of course. They found one other occasion on my historic record so the total was £160 (including 150 admin fee).

Thanks